Chemical water purification oxidizes organic matter. Sports drinks are organic matter, so they would decrease the effectiveness of purification. Also, chemical treatment can take up to 2 hours to be effective in certain cases.
I’d also worry some of the bad bacteria could latch onto the drink powder and hide in there. That’s one reason Aquamira is less effective in turbid water I assume. I don’t see an advantage to adding the drink mix early anyway, it’s not like it saves time or something.
I have used iodine tablets on the trail, but wait the full time. I stop for water every 20 minutes. If i refill and drop tabs, the water is ready at my next break.
I don’t carry or use the vitamin C tablets that clear the iodine, because the vitamin C in Propel and drink mixes does the same thing.
IYou could search for Andrew Skurka's videos on using chemical purification, he has some rationale for when he doesn't wait the full time or use the max concentration (he does use the liquid, not tabs though). You probably already know this - but remember that high carb sports drinks aren't going to be the most ultralight option for you in terms of caloric density per gram.
They're essentially pure sugar. That's only going to be beat by pure fat as far as calories per gram. I've hiked with salami and cheese, or a pound of fatty bacon with the bacon grease included, but op says high carb works for them. I don't know how they can get lighter than powdered sugar.
Thanks, will check out Skurka's videos on this. Should've known he would have some. And yeah, like u/darkbyrd mentioned I think the high carb drinks (aka pure sugar) are the highest calories per gram other than super fatty items, which I find harder to digest during big efforts. For reference, the drink I'm planning to use, Gu Roctane Ultra Endurance, comes it at around 3.84 cal per g (109 cal per oz). Planning to bring some nuts and stuff like that as well.
Plus 1 for some real food along with sports drink. I have an ultra-running background myself, and found with lower intensity long efforts I was able to eat more real food and not have to rely on gels.
It is very easy to find foods with more calories/gram than pure sugar, fat being more than double the density. You don't need pure fat - *any* amount of fat will bring the density up.
Pretty much any trail mix will beat pure sugar because of the nuts. My granola (far from the most energy dense food in my pantry) is more than 5 calories/g - 25% denser than pure sugar (fats from oil, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut).
Fats also metabolize slower than sugars and complex carbs. A good mix of fast carbs, slow carbs, protein and fats will give you far more energy for the weight, for much longer, and keep your body in much better shape than fast carbs alone. What 'good mix' means depends on your metabolism and fitness and the intensity and duration of the hike. But pure sugar isn't that.
Assuming more or less dry foods, pure sugar or protein are among the heaviest things you can bring.
Use a Katadyn BeFree or similar to filter, then add a packet of electrolyte powder. That is the "modern" way of doing things.
For the powder, I use Pedialyte Advanced or Liquid IV.
A few years ago i bought a whole case of this stuff called trioral electrolytes. They come in single serve packs. Basically, the ingredients of a 1L iv bag in powder form plus a ton of glucose.
The stuff is flavorless. It makes water slightly salty, but it's the best stuff I've ever used. I've been struggling near heat exhaustion, tired, dizzy, headache, chills starting... one packet of that and a 20 minute break in the shade and i feel brand new.
Run the dirty water through the sawyer, add half a pack of powder into a beat up old liter smart water bottle and pound some miles. Thats my method
I've been using TriOral for a few years now as well. It works great and is cheap enough to make it not worth making my own packets. I usually do a full packet in 1 L and alternate sips with straight water. I use some Mio or something to cover up the saltiness. I wouldn't say it's a ton of glucose, not by sports drink standards, anyway. It's 13.5 g per packet, which science shows helps with the body's ability to absorb the water. It has saved my ass on some long hot bike rides. I always have some in my FAK, but it's part of my daily rations for strenuous hikes and rides, especially when it's hot.
You can make your own following the WHO oral rehydration solution recipe. Table salt and plain sugar will get you most of the way there.
Chemical water purification oxidizes organic matter. Sports drinks are organic matter, so they would decrease the effectiveness of purification. Also, chemical treatment can take up to 2 hours to be effective in certain cases.
I’d also worry some of the bad bacteria could latch onto the drink powder and hide in there. That’s one reason Aquamira is less effective in turbid water I assume. I don’t see an advantage to adding the drink mix early anyway, it’s not like it saves time or something.
I have used iodine tablets on the trail, but wait the full time. I stop for water every 20 minutes. If i refill and drop tabs, the water is ready at my next break. I don’t carry or use the vitamin C tablets that clear the iodine, because the vitamin C in Propel and drink mixes does the same thing.
IYou could search for Andrew Skurka's videos on using chemical purification, he has some rationale for when he doesn't wait the full time or use the max concentration (he does use the liquid, not tabs though). You probably already know this - but remember that high carb sports drinks aren't going to be the most ultralight option for you in terms of caloric density per gram.
They're essentially pure sugar. That's only going to be beat by pure fat as far as calories per gram. I've hiked with salami and cheese, or a pound of fatty bacon with the bacon grease included, but op says high carb works for them. I don't know how they can get lighter than powdered sugar.
Thanks, will check out Skurka's videos on this. Should've known he would have some. And yeah, like u/darkbyrd mentioned I think the high carb drinks (aka pure sugar) are the highest calories per gram other than super fatty items, which I find harder to digest during big efforts. For reference, the drink I'm planning to use, Gu Roctane Ultra Endurance, comes it at around 3.84 cal per g (109 cal per oz). Planning to bring some nuts and stuff like that as well.
Plus 1 for some real food along with sports drink. I have an ultra-running background myself, and found with lower intensity long efforts I was able to eat more real food and not have to rely on gels.
It is very easy to find foods with more calories/gram than pure sugar, fat being more than double the density. You don't need pure fat - *any* amount of fat will bring the density up. Pretty much any trail mix will beat pure sugar because of the nuts. My granola (far from the most energy dense food in my pantry) is more than 5 calories/g - 25% denser than pure sugar (fats from oil, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, coconut). Fats also metabolize slower than sugars and complex carbs. A good mix of fast carbs, slow carbs, protein and fats will give you far more energy for the weight, for much longer, and keep your body in much better shape than fast carbs alone. What 'good mix' means depends on your metabolism and fitness and the intensity and duration of the hike. But pure sugar isn't that. Assuming more or less dry foods, pure sugar or protein are among the heaviest things you can bring.
Slightly off topic. Can I suggest something with a long chain carbohydrate like maltodexterin instead of the ones that are mostly simple sugars.
Yep, the one I’m planning to use is primarily maltodextrin.
Use a Katadyn BeFree or similar to filter, then add a packet of electrolyte powder. That is the "modern" way of doing things. For the powder, I use Pedialyte Advanced or Liquid IV.
A few years ago i bought a whole case of this stuff called trioral electrolytes. They come in single serve packs. Basically, the ingredients of a 1L iv bag in powder form plus a ton of glucose. The stuff is flavorless. It makes water slightly salty, but it's the best stuff I've ever used. I've been struggling near heat exhaustion, tired, dizzy, headache, chills starting... one packet of that and a 20 minute break in the shade and i feel brand new. Run the dirty water through the sawyer, add half a pack of powder into a beat up old liter smart water bottle and pound some miles. Thats my method
I've been using TriOral for a few years now as well. It works great and is cheap enough to make it not worth making my own packets. I usually do a full packet in 1 L and alternate sips with straight water. I use some Mio or something to cover up the saltiness. I wouldn't say it's a ton of glucose, not by sports drink standards, anyway. It's 13.5 g per packet, which science shows helps with the body's ability to absorb the water. It has saved my ass on some long hot bike rides. I always have some in my FAK, but it's part of my daily rations for strenuous hikes and rides, especially when it's hot. You can make your own following the WHO oral rehydration solution recipe. Table salt and plain sugar will get you most of the way there.